The Doberman, also known as the Doberman Pinscher or Dobermann, is a dog Elegant, muscular and powerful With a compact and powerful body, The Doberman has captivated the hearts of many people for many years. However, due to the stigmatization suffered by the breed, it has also been one of the most feared dogs. Fortunately, there are more and more people who decide to educate themselves in order to properly educate their dog, which demonstrates that the Doberman can be an excellent life companion.
This canine breed is also characterized by its enormous intelligence and sensitivity, which is why positive training is essential for guarantee their well-being and manage to generate a strong bond between dog and caregiver. If you are thinking of adopting a Doberman dog, you have come to the right place, because in this article on our site we will tell you everything you need to know about the characteristics of the Doberman, keep reading!
Origin of the Doberman Pinscher
The origin of this breed is relatively recent. Friederich Louis Dobermann, born on January 2, 1834 and died on June 9, 1894, was the creator of this dog and the reason why the breed It receives the name of Dobermann in German, whose translation is Doberman. Dobermann was a tax collector who also worked part time capturing dogs for the kennel. As he had to move around different places, some not very safe, Dobermann decided to create a breed of dog that would be able to protect him and at the same time be attached to people. It is not known for sure which breeds were involved in the creation of the Doberman, but it is thought that dogs known as "butcher dogs", very similar to Rottweilers, were used. Dobermans are also known to be related to Rottweilers and Beaucerons.
Initially the breed was known as the Doberman Pinscher, however over time the second word fell out of use, so it is now known simply as the Doberman Pinscher. Once Friederich Louis Dobermann began to crossbreed dogs to obtain the breed, he decided to set up his Doberman kennel in the decade of the 70sGiven his qualities, The Doberman was very popular as a guard and protection dog. Likewise, he was extensively trained to serve as a police dog and to fulfill jobs in the army. Currently the breed has lost that popularity and it is no longer so common to see these dogs in divisions of the armed forces. However, the Doberman remains a popular dog in civil society and retains the skills that once made it such a highly valued dog by law enforcement.
Doberman Pinscher Characteristics
One of the most remarkable characteristics of the Doberman and that we observe as soon as we see it is that it is a dog elegant It is fromlarge size , with a height at the withers of 68-72 cm in males and 63-68 cm in females. As for the weight, it is around 40-45 kg in males and 32-35 kg in females.
The head is wedge-shaped when viewed from above, elegant and slim, so should not give the impression of be bulky The stop is poorly defined, but evident. The nose, wider than round, should have large nostrils. In black dogs it should be black, while in brown dogs it should be lighter in color. The Doberman's snout is well developed and deep, with a mouth opening that reaches almost to the molars. The scissor bite is very powerful.
The eyes are medium-sized and oval They should be dark, but eyes of slightly lighter shades are allowed in brown dogs. The eyelids are well attached and the conjunctiva of the eye is not visible. In the past, the ears and tail of the Doberman were amputated when the dog was still a puppy a few months old. Today this practice is prohibited in many countries because it is cruel and unnecessary. In addition, these amputations seriously harm the dog's relationship with the environment and other dogs, as we explain in this other article: "Why is it bad to cut the tail and ears of dogs?". Thus, the Doberman's whole ears are medium in size and droop toward the cheeks, so they don't stand up.
The body compact, muscular and powerful allows the dog great ability to make quick movements in a small space. This ability favors the work of dogs trained for attack and protection. The back is short and muscular, as is the loin. The chest is broad and deep. The legs are equally muscular and are in proportion to the rest of the body.
The tail, which is naturally long, is from high and slightly curved, thin and pointed insert. As we have already pointed out, its amputation is totally prohibited. In addition, official organizations, such as the International Cinological Federation (FCI), penalize the docking of both ears and tails.
Doberman Colors
Doberman hair is single-layered and is characterized by being short, hard and dense The hair, which is distributed uniformly throughout the body, is smooth and close to the body. The colors accepted by the FCI are black and dark brown, bothwith clean, sharp rust-red markings These markings are usually present on the eyebrows, muzzle, cheeks, throat, chest, feet, and thighs, mainly.
Thus, both the Brown Doberman and the Black Doberman are accepted. However, the white Doberman does not. In general, when a specimen is born with this coloration on its coat, it indicates that we are dealing with an albino dog. We talk about it in depth in this other article: "Albino Doberman - Characteristics and care".
According to the FCI, there is only the described Doberman dog, however, the American Kennel Club records the existence of the European and American Doberman. We talked about them in the article on the Types of Dobermans.
Doberman Pinscher Character
The Doberman Pinscher is one of the smartest dogs around. He is especially friendly and peaceful, despite the fact that on many occasions his serious appearance may say otherwise. In general, the temperament of the Doberman is moderate and does not tend to get overly excited, as can happen in other breeds.
Another remarkable feature of this breed is that it is a dog that is very dependent on its family, so it is not suitable if we spend most of the day away or we cannot provide the care that it deserves to be happy. Despite being a friendly dog with his own, the Doberman is a bit suspicious with strangers, so it is advisable to socialize him properly from puppyhood. This distrust does not make him a dangerous dog, but it does help him to be a good guard. Of course, we must emphasize that this or any dog should not be adopted for the sole purpose of leaving it alone on a property to protect it, since they all need the company of their human companions.
This breed learns quickly and easily, so training a Doberman is not difficult. This breed's ability to train becomes evident when you consider the different activities it has and successfully has engaged in: tracking dogs, air-traffic dogs, guard dogs, search and rescue dogs, therapy dogs, assistance and many more occupations. However, it is on a day-to-day basis that the character of the Doberman will really surprise us, as it is an excellent companion. He is a dog sweet, affectionate, sensitive and very intelligent
Doberman pinscher care
Although they need a lot of exercise, these dogs can adapt to living in an apartment if they get long daily walks and games to help them burn off your energy. Despite this, they are dogs that will be better off if they have a garden where they can run and have fun. In fact, many behavioral problems are due primarily to a lack of physical and mental exercise.
Anyway, the Doberman is not an "outdoor" dog. With a low ability to withstand extreme cold, the Doberman needs a suitable place to sleep and rest. If you sleep in the garden, you need a house that is very well designed and free of drafts. It is not recommended for your Doberman to sleep outside in cold weather.
On the other hand, the physical stimulation of the Doberman will not be enough, he will also need mental stimulationto help relieve stress and the energy that he can accumulate. The different intelligence games will help us to work with him on this much-needed aspect.
Finally, it is important to add the care of the Doberman regarding his coat, since, although he loses hair regularly, with a weekly brush will be more than enough. Of course, during the moulting seasons, which are usually in spring and autumn, we can increase the frequency to two or three weekly brushings. As for the bath, it should be done when it is really necessary.
Don't forget that the Doberman is considered a potentially dangerous dog in many countries. Getting him used to the muzzle in his younger stage will be essential so that he does not have problems in his adult stage.
Doberman Pinscher Education
The Doberman is a highly intelligent dog, so he will need education and training beyond the usual. It will be basic to start with socialization, a process in which we teach our dog to interact with very different people, animals, objects and environments. Socialization prevents behaviors related to fear in its adult stage, which in the case of the Doberman dog can become reactive behaviors (it reacts aggressively out of fear of certain stimuli). Actively working on this process will be very important in his puppy stage, but we can also do it if we have adopted an adult dog. To do this, we recommend consulting this other post: "How to socialize an adult dog?".
Also in his youth, we will begin to work on the basic training commands and practice them in different situations, always with the use of positive reinforcement, such as rewards, petting, or words of encouragement. The use of punishment collars or training techniques based on punishment can lead to serious behavior problems in this very sensitive dog, so they should be avoided at all costs.
Already in his young adult stage, the Doberman must continue to practice obedience on a constant basis and begin to experiment with active exercise and the different intelligence games that exist, as well as more advanced tricks. Variety in his upbringing and training will foster positive and he althy attitudes. If we don't have time to offer this wonderful dog, maybe we should think of another breed more in line with our lifestyle.
Doberman Pinscher He alth
The Dobermann is generally a very he althy dog, but can be prone to spine problems, especially in the cervical region,gastric torsion, hip dysplasia and heart problemsTo ensure good he alth, the ideal is to visit a specialist every 6 months to observe your condition and give us the pertinent indications.
We will strictly follow your vaccination schedule, as well as that of deworming: external monthly and internal quarterly. Likewise, it is important to take care of his diet to avoid becoming overweight and maintain a correct hygiene of the eyes, teeth and ears Good care will make our Doberman dog he althy and happy for a long time. In this sense, the life expectancy of the Doberman is around 10-13 years.
Where to adopt a Doberman dog?
Unfortunately, this is a dog that is still used today for hunting, dog fighting or protecting land, so it suffers from abandonment when its "keepers" consider that it is not suitable for the worked. For this reason, you can find Doberman puppies and adults up for adoption at protectors and animal shelters Likewise, there are associations dedicated to the rescue of abandoned dogs of this breed, like SOS Dobermann. Likewise, there are many mixed-breed dogs that come from Doberman crosses with other dogs that also deserve to be adopted, since what is truly important is not whether or not they are breeds, but rather that they adapt to our lifestyle in order to provide them with all the care. what do you need.
